Stoke City supporters held up banners and chanted for Mark Hughes to be sacked after they were beaten by Newcastle United, but the manager declared that he was still the best man to keep the club in the Premier League.

Stoke are now two points above the relegation zone, having played more matches than the four teams below them. Despite just ten wins in their 39 league matches in 2017, Hughes has retained the support of Peter Coates, the club chairman.

Hughes came out fighting despite fan protests after another lossAnna Gowthorpe/BPI/REX/Shutterstock

Supporters were angry at the manager’s decision to field an understrength team for Saturday’s 5-0 defeat away to Chelsea, with the intention of keeping players fresh for what was believed to be a more winnable game yesterday. It was a gamble that backfired, leaving…